The Example of Vertu | Page 8

be sette?So euery true crysten man sholde be?To god intended with lyberalyte
The fourth is that he sholde be stronge?His ryght euer for to defende?And neuer to no man for to do wronge?But wronges for to dyrecte and amende?As ferre as his power wyll extende?So a true crysten man sholde exclude?All maner of vyces by his fortytude
The fyfth is [that] he sholde be mercyable?In all his dedes withouten furoure?For that to hym is gretly conuenable?And eke to kepe hym out of erroure?For he of mercy sholde be a myrroure?So vnto them it is ryght necessary?Who that wyll be saued for to haue mercy
The syxte is a knyght ought for to kepe?The poore folke in theyr grete nede?That often for hungre and thyrst do wepe?He ought with almes theym for to fede?And the better he shall than spede?So euery true crysten man sholde do?As ferre as his power cometh vnto
I Sapyence am of the kynges counsayll?Whiche is clothed with purple that sygnyfyeth?The grace and the pulcrytude without fayll?Of grete vertues that in hym shyneth?For to no vyces he neuer enclyneth?Hauynge in his hede a fayre crowne royall?That sheweth his dygnyte to be regall
Whiche to his people is the chefe glory?Thrugh whome his subgectes be dyrecte?And made obedyent to hym certaynly?At euery houre by ryght true effecte?But forthermore by good aspecte?He bereth a ball in his lefte hande?The whiche betokeneth as I vnderstande
A kynge to be a good admynystratour?Vnto his subgectes in euery place?And to be for theym a good prouysour?As reason requyreth in euery case?I Sapyence do rule his noble grace?In his ryght hand he hath a septure?That doth sygnyfye by ryght his rygoure
Yll men to punysshe for theyr offence?By his ryghtwysnes whome the loue?Of vertue shynynge in experyence?Doth not extoll nor yet now remoue?A lampe doth hange his heed aboue?Alway lyght and clerely brennynge?Whiche sygnyfyeth the mercy of a kynge
The olde philosophers by theyr prudence?Fonde the seuen scyences lyberall?And by theyr exercyse & grete dylygence?They made theyr dedes to be memoryall?And also poetes that were fatall?Craftely colored with clowdy fygures?The true sentence of all theyr scryptures
O Iustyce lady and souerayne goddesse?Gyue you true sentence now vpon me?As ye be surmountynge in vertue & noblesse?Lete me dame Sapyence haue the soueraynte?As is accordynge to my royall dygnyte?For I am moost profytable vnto man?And euer had ben syns the world began
Than sayd dame Fortune ye are imperfyte?Without that I therto be accordaunt?For all your hardynes & prudence perfyte?I vnto you must be well exuberaunt?And with your werkes euer concordaunt?Where that I fauer they haue good c[om]fort?In all theyr dedes by my swete resort
I Fortune am the rule and steere?Of euery persone lyke to my wyll?That in this worlde now lyueth here?Whan that I lyst for to fulfyll?My mynde ryght sone I can dystyll?The dewe of comfort welth and rychesse?To man exaltynge hym to noblenesse
Though that a man were neuer so hardy?Without me he myght not attayne?And though that a man were neuer so wytty?And I dyd my power from hym refrayne?All his labour were lost in vayne?So hardynesse and prudence in no wyse?Without good fortune may well suffyse
Though that a man were but a fole?Yf I consent that he be fortunate?He nedyth not to make no grete dole?For I shall mayntene so his estate?That he in rychesse shall be so eleuate?Fulfylled with welth & worldely tresure?That he shall lacke no maner of pleasure
Where that dame hardynes wold afferme?By her cases that are so vnsure?That she by her power doth conferme?The knyghtes of vyctory for to be sure?Whan she doth take theyr hertes in cure?Yf fortune be awaye she may not auayle?For they by reason must lose the batayle
Yet forthermore as I do well consyder?How dame hardynes dyd expresse?Sythens the tyme that I came hyder?That she promoted had to worthynes?Hector dauid and the noble hercules?With many other wherof she fayleth?For it was fortune as she well knoweth
For in olde tyme the noble warryours?For to eschewe euer my grete daungere?In whiche tyme they were ydolestours?Than they to put hym oute of fere?To ydols went that theyr goddes were?For to haue answer yf they sholde wynne?The batayll or they dyd begynne
What nede I pleed by longe contynuaunce?As dame Sapyence dyd in maters hy?It were of tyme but dyscontynuaunce?But o dame Iustyce the gentyll lady?Loke that ye Iuge my mater ryght wysely?That I of hardynes may be the pryncypall?And of dame prudence & nature with all
Than sayd dame nature that may not be?As I can proue by ryght and reason?For I am moost confort to humanyte?As man well knoweth at euery encheason?And can not be forborne for none season?For where I lacke without ony delay?Man is but dede and turned to clay
That nature gyueth by her power?Wysedome nor hardynes may not defete?For I to man am the chefe doer?Durynge his lyfe without retrete?Also dame fortune may not